LFA meets with University of Arizona staff about local procurement

Local First Arizona frequently consults with businesses, organizations, and agencies to discuss how those entities can better use their purchasing power to create positive economic change in our local economy though supporting local businesses. Recently, members of the LFA staff met with the University of Arizona Procurement and Contracting Services (PACS), which is in charge of a majority of the purchasing decisions at the university and has a purchasing power of tens of millions of dollars. LFA was able to share with UofA PACS the importance of supporting local businesses and the local economic impact the university could have on the Tucson economy. Local procurement is especially a huge way to support the local economy, as studies have shown that local procurement leads to job growth and prosperous communities.

As part of the discussion, PACS staff graciously invited LFA to attend their invitation only supplier showcase on Thursday, April 24th at the University of Arizona ballroom.In addition to large contracts, PACS also helps administer purchasing cards, called PCards, that are issued to thousands of university staff for job related purchases.These purchases may be relatively minor items like office supplies, custom printing and more, but in the aggregate add up to tens of millions of dollars in discretionary purchasing by the UofA. The supplier showcase was a great place to connect with the UofA staff members making these purchasing decisions and help them understand that when they choose to make purchases with local businesses, up to four times more money stays here in our community. Also, we know that supporting local businesses is a key to increased job growth, something critically important to our university students.

Our sustaining member, Goodmans Interior Solutions, was kind enough to share their booth space with us at the showcase so that we could get the word out to the hundreds of UofA staff in attendance.Along with the great folks at Goodmans, we spotted other LFA members Wist Office Products, Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort and Allegra Marketing Print Mail.We also met a lot of other great local companies that, in a room filled with representatives from large national organizations, were thrilled to hear us spreading the message that local purchasing is an important choice to make.

We are so appreciative of the courtesy shown to LFA by the University of Arizona and Goodman’s Interior Structures in helping us get out the message that support of local is critical to Arizona’s success.We look forward to continuing to work with the University of Arizona!